Sibley students reach goal for area food shelves; 7 teachers, staff jump in the lake
Published 10:05 am Monday, February 6, 2017
- Sibley Elementary School teachers Kelly Nellermoe and Kristin Kyllo prepare to jump into Fountain Lake Saturday during the Blue Ice Plunge. The women were two of seven teachers and staff from the elementary school to take part in the event. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
- Sibley Elementary School teachers Kelly Nellermoe and Kristin Kyllo prepare to jump into Fountain Lake Saturday during the Blue Ice Plunge. The women were two of seven teachers and staff from the elementary school to take part in the event. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
- From left, Sibley Elementary School building secretary Nikki Worman, Principal Diane Schultz, second-grade teacher Clay Scott and first-grade teacher Drew Wanzek jump into Fountain Lake Saturday during The Big Freeze. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
- Sibley Elementary school teachers receive support before taking the plunge. – Sarah Stultz
- Sibley Elementary School staff and teachers respond to the cold water after jumping into Fountain Lake on Saturday. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
- About 40 people jumped into Fountain Lake Saturday as part of the Blue Ice Plunge. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
- A group jumps into Fountain Lake Saturday as part of the Blue Ice Plunge, one of several events of The Big Freeze. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
- Two girls clasped hands as they jumped into Fountain Lake Saturday during the Blue Ice Plunge. – Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
- The temperature of the water was evident by watching the faces of those who jumped in Saturday during the Blue Ice Plunge. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
- Several men jumped into Fountain Lake bare-chested during the Blue Ice Plunge. – Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
- Some people, including this man, jumped into the lake more than once. – Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
More than three dozen people braved cold temperatures Saturday to raise money and food for area food shelves while jumping in Fountain Lake during The Big Freeze.
Drawing large crowds were Sibley Elementary School Principal Diane Schultz and six other teachers and staff from the school.
The educators vowed to jump in the lake if their students reached a fundraising goal for the food shelves.
For the past week and a half, students could bring in their coins to their teachers. If they reached $200, five teachers would jump in the lake; if they reached $250, Schultz and building secretary Nikki Worman would also jump in.
Students collected about $675 — a record for the school, Worman said.
In addition to Schultz and Worman, others who jumped were Lexie Burnett, Clay Scott, Kristin Kyllo, Kelly Nellermoe and Drew Wanzek.
They dressed as superheroes, which was in line with the school’s theme of “Everyday Heroes.”
Worman said the teachers and students were excited to raise money for the food shelves.
In addition to having a lot of fun, the idea went along with one of the education standards in second grade.
Worman said Scott’s classroom counted all the coins collected through Thursday, before all the coins were turned in Friday at the bank.
The Blue Ice Plunge was one of several events happening Saturday at The Big Freeze. Other events scheduled included a chili cook, ice skating, disc golf, snowshoeing and horse drawn sleigh rides, to name a few.